Israeli Foreign Minister on Peace Mission in Egypt Depicted In Newspaper as Nazi

Washington, D.C., May 1, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed outrage that, while in Cairo attempting to negotiate a cease fire between Israelis and Palestinians, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres was depicted as a Nazi in the Sunday edition of Egypt's opposition newspaper, Al Arabi.

At a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Amr Moussa, Minister Peres was confronted with the photograph of his face superimposed over a man in a Nazi uniform with a caption reading: "Peres, the Butcher of Qana and messenger of the great criminal Sharon is in Cairo today."

"While in Cairo on a mission of peace, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres was greeted by yet another instance of anti-Semitism in the Egyptian press," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The depiction of Israelis and Jews as Nazis is an all too common occurrence in the Egyptian media. As diplomatic efforts to end the violence continue, it is essential that leadership across the region exert influence and actively works to avoid incendiary material from inflaming and further exacerbating tensions.

"We again call upon Egypt's leaders to publicly condemn such anti-Semitic manifestations in the Egyptian press."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.